PGA Tour Commissioner and Saudi PIF Governor Playing (!) in the Same Tournament

PGA Tour commissioner Jay Monahan and Saudi Arabia Public Investment Fund (PIF) governor Yasir Al-Rumayyan will both be in Scotland this week for the DP World Tour’s Alfred Dunhill Links Championship.

But it won’t be to hold formal meetings to finalize the “framework agreement” between the parties that was agreed to in June 2023.

Rather, it will be to tee it up as part of the pro-am portion of the DP World Tour event that features stars from both the PGA Tour and LIV Golf.

EXCLUSIVE: Yasir Al-Rumayyan and Jay Monahan playing in Dunhill Links also featuring LIV rebels Rahm and Koepka, with McIlroy also playing. Politically, it could be a big week https://t.co/QZJlp8uxuW

— James Corrigan (never had a blue tick) (@jcorrigangolf) October 1, 2024

The Telegraph reports that Monahan will be paired with Billy Horschel, who was the first American golfer to win the BMW PGA Championship multiple times after his victory at Wentworth last month. Al-Rumayyan is expected to team up with someone from LIV Golf. Jon Rahm, Brooks Koepka, and Tyrrell Hatton are among 14 LIV stars taking part in the event.

Al-Rumayyan played in this event last year but under an assumed name – Andrew Waterman.

It’s not clear why he is using his real name this time around, but the Telegraph reports that the DP World Tour is interested in jumping into negotiations with LIV if the long-awaited deal with PGA Tour Enterprises doesn’t materialize.

Rory McIlroy – who is playing in the event this week – just about said as much.

“If things don’t materialize with the PGA Tour, I think it would maybe bring the European Tour back to the 1980s and ‘90s, when there really was two strong tours. And look, selfishly as a European, it would be wonderful to get that investment and to use that money in the right way for this tour – but it would still keep the game divided. However, it would be plan B to the best solution.”

DPWT CEO Guy Kinnings, who is publicly committed to joining sides with the PGA Tour in hopes of reuniting the game of golf with LIV, said last month that “we would have a few other options” if the sides can’t finalize the long-awaited deal.

Jay Monahan and Jon Rahm just enjoyed a brief catch-up on the chipping green at St Andrews.

(Might I add, the PGA Tour commish has a terrific chipping action 👌🏼) pic.twitter.com/5L74EqUFCc

— Michael McEwan (@MMcEwanGolf) October 1, 2024

Perhaps that’s why Monahan is playing in this event for the first time.